By Catherine Jensen

 

 

The Fates’ debut album “Some Day Soon” has the artsy look of an underground hit album. The refreshing photograph on the cover depicts light streaming into a narrow alley.

 

Don’t be fooled, good album covers can be
deceiving.

 

To the credit of the lyricist, composer and
vocalist Tyler Tholl, “Some Day Soon” is a great effort for the band’s first album. Considering what’s mainstream now, it compares well.

 

Unfortunately, their music is pop at best, weighted down with cheesy lyrics that are so
cliché the words lose all of their purpose.

 

The songs “How Our Story Ends” and “Some Day Soon” induce a chortle with lyrics such as “Floating like an aero plane stuck inside four cellophane walls” and “I stare at my imperfect feet.”

 

Lyrically, “Some Day Soon” was not a very strong debut for The Fates, leaving a whisper of other artists’ music resonating in theirs. The Fates might as well become a smiling optimistic ball of sunshine able to cheer up anyone in any situation. The lyrics are unrealistic, and they try too hard to be emotional and deep.

 

Despite all of the lyrical debacles, the music is the album’s saving grace. Incorporating drums, bass, guitar, violin and cello, the music is the part to listen to. Drown out the lyrical gaffs, the music shines.

 

At times, the music does err too far on the
poppy side. In “Mercury” and “Slow Dissolve” repetition occurs in the common musical hooks used. Also in both “Don’t Pretend” and “Some Day Soon” the same piano chord progression is used with the difference of just one note.

 

The vocals occasionally distract from good
sections of music.

 

Tholl’s vocals are unoriginal and airy especially in “Mercury” and “How Our Story Ends.” The falsetto singing parts of “How Our Story Ends,” “Hide,” “I See,” “Some Day Soon” and “Paris” could be toned down a few notches. They are
distracting.

 

If “Slow Dissolve (Shine),” “Don’t Pretend” and “Leaving Quietly” were mixed together, Tholl’s vocals would improve and every song would have that deep, earthy feeling that is felt in the best parts of these songs.

 

This is not a listen-straight-through album but more a pick-your-favorites album, which is very common for the first album of any band. The difference with the bands that go on and keep
making more albums is that they have potential.

 

The Fates do have potential — especially in the music, but it’s hidden in the lyrics too. “Tangerine skylines appear from the dark,” which appears in the song “Don’t Pretend,” is one of these.

 

If you love lyrics, “Slow Dissolve (Shine)” is the strongest song. “The look in your eye speaks louder than tones and saves us from the wasted nights and broken bones” radiates potential and offers a constant beat that keeps this song
running while a climax starts to build in the
guitar followed by the drums. It’s easy to imagine this song on stage.

 

All in all, “Some Day Soon” is a smorgasbord of musical bits, reminiscent of acoustic MAE, Norah Jones and the piano theme in the latest Pride and Prejudice movie.

 

Their hard work has shown potential, and with a lot more work on lyrics and a little on the vocals the next album could be great, inspiring and full of meaning, because this one does not sing out just yet.

 

 

This is the opinion of Catherine Jensen, a CSB first-year.

 

 

Filed under: Music by Tan Tuohy